When it comes to looking for new beauty products, I function almost entirely on word of mouth, and (thankfully) I rarely waste money as a result. It also means I run across a lot of great products, and I’ve been on an especially strong roll recently. If you’re looking to treat yourself to a little something new, check out my current favorites below–I’ve tested them all with my own head.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream
$38 via Sephora
Having dry skin in the dead of summer is a weird proposition. You want to use products that give you the moisture you need, but you also want them to be light enough and gentle enough that they don’t melt off your face before they even have a chance to soak in. This First Aid Beauty night cream was a little too light for me this winter, but I pulled it back out of my cabinet when it got warm and have used it every day since. It delivers plenty of nighttime moisture without feeling greasy, which is great for the heat.
Ouidad Curl Recovery Melt-Down Extreme Repair Mask
$44 via Sephora
Curly hair (which I have) is naturally dry to begin with, and I bleach mine and have been known to flat iron it in cooler weather, on top of its naturally parched state. I also put it up in a topknot for days at a time, which is a real treat to detangle when it’s time for a biweekly hair wash. The only way I can do it without ripping all my hair out is by using a thick, moisturizing mask before I start washing, which I then leave on for a few minutes before I shampoo and condition. It’s an off-label use of a mask, but it works great. The fact that I still have any hair on my head at all is proof.
Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Peeling Gel
$38 via Sephora
This product is my newest skincare acquisition and I am obsessed. A friend recommended this to me because it’s really satisfying to use (the gel coagulates as you rub it on your face, which sort of make it seem like all your dead skin is getting clumped up and washed away), and the results are stellar. I already take pretty good care of my skin, but my face felt so great after I used this stuff that I’m already dreading the day at some indeterminate point in the future on which it will undoubtedly be discontinued. In the meantime, my skin will be baby soft.
Smashbox Full Exposure Eyeshadow Palette
$52 via Sephora
I don’t really buy eyeshadow. I don’t use it all that often, and picking one or two shades out of hundreds at a store is overwhelming. This palette felt like a one-stop shop to me when I saw it on the shelf in Sephora, and it’s what I’ve been reaching for at home ever since. It’s made up of seven shades of universally flattering neutrals, both in matte and shimmer form, for a total of 14 shadows. It also comes with a hefty sample tube of Smashbox’s eye primer, which is pretty good.
Tokyomilk Dark No. 62 Tained Love Eau de Parfum
$36 via Sephora
My tastes tend toward dark, heavy fragrances, which can be overwhelming when it’s really hot outside. This perfume includes some of my favorite notes, like vanilla, orchid and sandalwood, but the finished product is light enough that it won’t feel like you’re sweating perfume when it’s 90 degrees outside. Plus, it’s pretty affordable, as perfumes go.
